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Health and wellbeing

Our health and wellbeing centres offer you and your family helpful information about medical conditions and illnesses as well as lots of tips to inspire and support you to make better decisions around your lifestyle and wellbeing.

Our health and wellbeing centres offer you and your family helpful information about medical conditions and illnesses as well as lots of tips to inspire and support you to make better decisions around your lifestyle and wellbeing.

Don’t let cancer keep you awake at night

28 September 2015

When you’re diagnosed with cancer, it’s understandable that it can keep you awake at night.

You may be anxious about your treatment, the outcome and how it will affect you. You could also be worried about your family, work and the emotional and financial challenges you may face. Put simply, it’s normal to feel like you’re on an emotional rollercoaster and for your sleep to be disturbed.

Experiencing insomnia is common for cancer patients. It affects about one in three people, and is often associated with emotional distress and pain. 1,2 Some people find it hard to get to sleep, whilst others can’t stay asleep.

Why sleep is important

Getting a good night's sleep is beneficial for your mental, physical and emotional health.

It can help you cope better, concentrate more and make it less likely you'll feel fatigued and depressed.

How to sleep better

If you’re struggling with poor sleep, here are some ideas that could help.

Do some exercise – Although this can be hard when you’re not feeling well, physical exercise such as short walks or gentle gardening can help improve your sleep.3

Jot it down – Something on your mind? Write it down. Putting your thoughts on paper can be helpful.

Have a snack – Have a light snack or warm drink before bed, as being hungry can affect sleep. Avoid stimulants such as caffeine or alcohol.

Develop a bedtime routine ‒ Going to bed and waking up at the same time can help your body develop a sleep rhythm.

Create a calm bedroom – Ensure your mattress and pillows are comfortable, the temperature is right, the room dark and make it a technology-free zone.

How do I tell people I have cancer?

Top cancer fighting foods

One in 10 cancers could be prevented by eating a balanced diet, according to Cancer Research UK. But deciphering how what you eat affects your chances of developing cancer can be really confusing – it’s hard to know if the research is reliable, some foods are good in one way but bad in another, and there always seems to be a new superfood cure.

Psychology of cancer – the emotional spectrum of remission

Bowel cancer symptoms and signs

Our experts answer your questions about bowel cancer, colon cancer and rectal cancer
What is bowel cancer?
Bowel cancer (also known as colorectal cancer) is an umbrella term given to a cancer that starts in the lining of the colon and rectum (or large bowel).